Leakproof fire extinguisher



Feb. 19, 1952 F. REEVES 2,586,088

LEAKPROOF FI'RE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR. Flam 0 .4. 4 5514525 Feb. 19, 1952 REEVES 2,586,088

LEAKPROOF FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Horn 4, Fizz/5 BY Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNI-TED PATENT OFFICE assaoss 3 iexxrimior FIRE EXTINGUISHER mm: Reeves, Slhitlfton, m. I Application retreat 17, 1950, Serial Non-44,769

2- Claims;

My invention relates; to. improvemerits,v fire extinguishers and similar devices.v

My invention relates more particularly to portable fire extinguishers of the type which may be carried in trucks, automobiles: or similar vehicles, although it will be understood that the. principles of construction found therein may be applied to larger or so-called stationary types of 'fire extinguishers as well;-

The principal object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher and which may contain air or gas under pressure or a liquid: chemical such as C02; (carbon dioxide), or carbon tetra chloride which'forms gas and expands rapidly when freed, it being one of the principal features of my improved construction that the container therefor is rendered absolutely leak-proof during all times except when it is desired to use the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leak-proof fire extinguisher of the type described which employs a valve member normally assisted in being held in sealing position by the pressure in the container itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leak-proof fire extinguisher of the type described which employs a spring pressed ball check valve normally held in position by the spring and the pressure in the container, but adapted during use to be unseated so that the gas or liquid chemicals therein may be released when needed.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a construction of the type described that is comparatively simple in construction, yet highly efficient and capable of long and hard use without becoming broken or out of order.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a fire extinguisher embodyin my principle of invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken generally on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in a changed position.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen toillustrate and describe herein, in Fig. 1 I have shown a fire extinguisher which may include the container ID a coupler member l2, a nozzle member l4 and a releasing member It provided with a knurled knob 18 at the end thereof.

Referring generally to Fig. 2 wherein the parts are shown in cross section, the container l0 may be of the usual. type adapted to contain air or gas under pressure or any liquid chemical that may form a gas and expand rapidly when. released, the pressure being formed bein a combination of chemicals, a; tubular member 2n being provided in the interiorof the container having its end extending generally to a position adjacent the lower end of the container; The upper end of the tubular member 20 may be fixedly seated in a threaded plug member 22 which has a flange v24 so that it may be soldered: orotherwise i ably fastened inthe upper en'dof the container" t0.

The coupler member l2 may be provided with a tapped opening 26 adapted to screw-threadedly connect the same to the plug 22, a gasket 28 being provided for an efiective seal between the parts. The coupler l2 and the plug 22 may be provided with the aligned axial openings an and 32 respectively to provide a chamber to receive the ball valve 34 normally held in position by the coiled spring member 36 against the valve seat 38.

The coupler l2 may be provided with a reduced threaded extension 40 which has an opening 42 therein, the same being normally closed by a diaphragm seal 44 of the usual type employed on fire extinguishers.

The nozzle I4 is provided with the tapped axial opening 46 adapted to be screw-threadedly mounted upon the extension 4!], the nozzle having a chamber 48 within which a retaining valve 50 is mounted, the seat 52 thereof being of a pliable compound normally adapted to seat against the opening 54 with the stem 56 extending therethrough. I provide an enlarged shoulder 58 on the stem 56 terminating in the knob Hi, the part 58 being screw-threaded to engage in the tapped opening 60 in the upper end of the nozzle M. The jet 62 may extend outwardly from the opening 60 through the wall of the nozzle as shown.

When the fire extinguisher above described has been filled with a chemical, the ball check valve will normally close the discharge opening from the same, and the diaphragm seal 44 may be placed over the opening 42. The nozzle M can then be mounted upon the coupler [2 with the valve 50 in the position shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to use the extinguisher, the knob I8 is turned and the toothed extension 5| on the valve 50 is adapted to pierce the diaphragm seal 44 and continue on downwardly to depress the ball valve 34 so that the fluid under pressure may pass upwardly through the conduit 20 and 51.5 out through the nozzle 62. When sufficient of to those skilled in the art that changes and modi-- flcations may be made in the exact details shown, and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. For use with a leak-proof container for fire extinguisher fluid the combination with-a screwthreaded plug extending from said container of a coupler connected to said plug, said plug and said coupler having axially aligned openings forming a chamber, a spring-pressed ball valve mounted in the chamber formed in said plug and coupler,

movable valve member having a pliable head normally sealing the fluid passage in said nozzle.

2. For use with a leak-proof container for fire extinguisher fluid the combination with a threaded plug extending from said container of a coupler having a tapped opening for axially aligned connection to said plug, said plug and said coupler having axially aligned openings therein forming a chamber, a-spring-pressed ball valve mounted in said chamber .closingone end of the same, a diaphragm seal secured over the closed end 01' L said coupler, a nozzle secured to the same end a diaphragm seal secured over the opening of said chamber in the end of said coupler, a nozzle secured to the end of said coupler, and manually operable valve means connected to said nozzle for moving said ball valve to permit release of the contents of said container, said valve means having a screw-threaded shank for mounting the same in said nozzle, andamovable valve member having a pointed extension for piercing saidldiaphragm seal and holding said ball valve open, said of said coupler, manually operable means connectedto said nozzle for moving said ball valve to permit release of the contents of said container, said means having a knob, a shank screw-thread edly mounted in the end of said nozzle, and a valve member movable by said shank and having a pointed extension for piercing said diaphragm seal and holding said ball valve open, said valve member having a pliable head normally sealing the fluid passage in said nozzle.

FLOYD L. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,015,987 Bijur et al Jan. 30, 1912 2,098,454 Kelly Nov. 9, 1937 2,363,521 Grant Nov. 28, 1944 

